Generation Fail, aka "The Peter Pan Generation" 18-39

I have been seeing this a lot recently, and don't know if it is going to be a meme for 2013-2014. Synopsis: In the US/UK 33% of the young between 18-39 are living at home, are unproductive, and marriage avoidant. This bias is stronger for the males. European, and US demographics are similar, Japan as well, but older, lots of unmarried 30ish there too.

Is this just in the West? What do you think causes it? Generational demographics/economics, moral decline, pop culture?

What do you all think, and how does this impact your own plans for the future?

I think it's a combination of collective pessimism from seeing the effects of a recession, the unfulfilled promises of the "you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it", and the latter effects from the "good times" of the 70s kids that have grown older, yet not necessarily have they grown up. They became the establishment that they fought against, and in some ways they've squandered the gains from the greatest generation. It probably leads to a level of timidity that in some ways is a reaction from whence they came. Add onto that the "kids" from failed marriages and the rise of media ideals that are spoon-fed to younger generations from since they could remember, and you have a generation that has lost the opportunity to dictate our own identity. Pop feminism is POPular, but it in itself is a manufactured thing, and I think that a lot of the things that we assume about ourselves are given to us by other means. We've ridden the wave and are sometimes ill-equipped to work against the tide to fight out way, tooth and nail, to something more.

It's similar in South Korea as well. I'm not familiar with other areas, though. It affects my own plans as far as having lower expectations. I expect my SO to "want" more and to "not compromise" when she's looking after herself. In some ways, I'm gearing up to do the traditional male role of being the provider, yet I'm also planning for the eventuality that my loved one might leave me (and any subsequent offspring) so she can look after her needs. Similar to how a lot of my friends found themselves in single-parent households because of a shifting societal standard. People had more options, but it was new to everyone, and sometimes people found their situations better (or worse), and their kids were affected in kind. I don't see today's society being one of mutual support and understanding in a lot of cases. We strive for that, but I don't think that people are strong enough to go beyond themselves anymore, although there are exceptions, of course. Ideally, things would all work out and both partners would be equally happy, but sometimes people might find that they want more. Sometimes you have to plan for the worst and hope for the best.

P.S. Disney is to blame to some degree. Haha!

P.P.S. I have nothing against feminism, but pop feminism is something entirely different (and I don't feel like going over feminist theory).

I'd like to do things that I've always wanted to do before wearing out and settling down for anything more.

"Our youth now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for their elders and love chatter in place of exercise; they no longer rise when elders enter the room; they contradict their parents, chatter before company; gobble up their food and tyrannize their teachers."

It's from a play by Aristophanes, around 500BC, so nothing new here

Somehow, I knew you would answer this, and bring good insight to the picture, I was looking forward to it, lol.

Multifarious wrote: It's similar in South Korea as well.

It is a shame.


I expect my SO to "want" more and to "not compromise" when she's looking after herself. In some ways, I'm gearing up to do the traditional male role of being the provider, yet I'm also planning for the eventuality that my loved one might leave me (and any subsequent offspring) so she can look after her needs... I don't see today's society being one of mutual support and understanding in a lot of cases. We strive for that, but I don't think that people are strong enough to go beyond themselves anymore, although there are exceptions, of course. Ideally, things would all work out and both partners would be equally happy, but sometimes people might find that they want more. Sometimes you have to plan for the worst and hope for the best.

This is such a tragic thing. It is my worst fear, how people can be so selfish? To leave even their loving spouse, and parental responsibilities for "Self fulfillment".

Failure to Thrive: there are many socioeconomic reasons as to why there is an increasing amount of highly unmotivated pre-adults, young adults and even adults. It's easy to blame pop culture or even the feminist movement which to some degree has shifted the global ideal of home and family. However at the root-- is responsibility for our personal choices.

You can have in the same household with similar upbringing a person that had taken responsibility for their growth and is thriving in society to the beat of their own drum and then on the other hand you have one that blames others, the economy, their past for thier lack of choices/opportunities.

There is also a problem with the microwave mentality---the I want it now syndrome. Relationships, Excellent Health, Wealth building, child rearing, and all the great stuff in the universe- takes time. Life is not instant noodles, you can't have it your way unless you make the decision to sacrifice time to obtain it.